Among the working teams to be presented, those of Budget and Credentials stand out, as they are the most disputed by the independent lawmakers from the “Vamos” Coalition and those from the ruling “Realizando Metas” (RM) party.

According to the schedule, the installation of all 15 commissions will take place from July 22 to 31, and the first one will be the Credentials Commission, which has the responsibility of ratifying some 200 officials appointed by the new administration of President Jose Raul Mulino.

In this commission, legislators Alexandra Brenes, of “Vamos,” and Shirley Castañeda, of RM, will hold a face-to-face meeting. The latter is a member of the legal team of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), sentenced to over 10 years in prison for money laundering and in asylum in the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama since February 7.

Castañeda also represents Jorge Camargo, aka “Cholo Chorrillo,” who was sentenced to over five years in prison for money laundering and was extradited to the United States.

Meanwhile, the installation and internal voting in the Budget Commission, a body which in the last five years has become a forum at which the lawmakers measure forces with the Executive for the control of state resources, is scheduled for Tuesday.

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